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Appendix K: Online Learning Policy

Eligibility

The following course types are eligible to be taught in online and hybrid formats:

  • Graduate Courses
  • Undergraduate courses taught in Winter and Summer terms only

The following course types are not eligible to be taught in online and hybrid formats:

  • Undergraduate Courses in regular sessions (Fall and Spring).

Approval Process for Hybrid and Online Programs

In order to offer a new or existing program in an online or hybrid modality, the Department Chair will submit the proposal to the Senate. The proposal will use the existing Senate approval forms for New Programs, explicitly addressing how the online or hybrid format affects each area addressed.

Additionally, it must address how each course meets the criteria for approval of online courses outlined below.

Approval Process for Hybrid and Online Courses

  1. All course and program delivery methods will be approved by the department head and the Office of the Provost.
    1. All Online – Asynchronous (Not Live)
    2. All Online Synchronous (live online and “in seat” simultaneously)
    3. Hybrid – 30%- 80% person in a classroom
  1. Online and Hybrid courses must meet the following criteria for approval:
    1. Require the same academic rigor as any other course
    2. Are benchmarked by departments against their “in seat” equivalents both within and outside the institution
    3. Comply with NY State Rules which define time on tasks roughly equivalent to the time spent by a successful student in a “in seat” class see http://www.highered.nysed.gov/ocue/ded/policies.html
    4. Are created with accessibility in mind and conform to the accessibility standards under Section 508 of the Rehabilitation Act and the Act WCAG 2.0 AA Standards.
    5. Must comply with college policies to ensure academic integrity, in particular, the identity of the student taking the course.
    6. Is fully assessed with the same process and rigor as in-seat classes.
    7. Courses/Programs provided by a third party under the College’s name
      1. Follow the same approval process as any other course or program
      2. Are reviewed and arranged in such a way that the college maintains complete control and responsibility for academic content, quality, rigor, and grading.
  1. Faculty Training and Workloads
    1. Faculty workloads are appropriately adjusted for online enrollments to ensure that there is capacity to serve students appropriately
    2. Faculty must demonstrate proficiency in online pedagogy prior to developing a course or teaching an online section of an existing course
    3. The College will contract a partner for the delivery of the necessary training.
  1. Intellectual Property
    1. The first instructor of an online course will develop the online infrastructure that will be utilized by subsequent instructors.
    2. The created course and subsequent versions will belong to the College, not the faculty member.
  1. Course Coding

Online and Hybrid Courses must be clearly designated as such prior to student enrollment. As with any other courses, technical requirements must be clearly stated and must be available to the student prior to registration.

Please note: See Addendum: Best Practices for Online Courses

Approved August 15, 2018